Laikipia woman rep Waruguru pledges loyalty to Uhuru after Raila meet

ODM Party leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday met Laikipia Women Representative Catherine Waruguru at his Capitol Hill offices.

National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed was present.

Waruguru conveyed her commitment to working with Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta on critical national issues.

This includes constitutional reforms and ensuring the unity of the nation and fighting the coronavirus.

Raila welcomed Waruguru's commitment, emphasizing the need for leaders to work together, particularly because of the difficulties the country is going through with Covid-19 and the attendant economic meltdown.

"At this moment in our history, it is critical that we approach our search for solutions not as members of this or that party or tribe but as Kenyans," he said.

"The President needs support and the country requires unity," Raila said and commended the MP for being “courageous and strong.”

He challenged the MP to bring on board more of her colleagues to embrace the Building Bridges Initiative which he said “is a good reform agenda for the country”.

Raila further appealed particularly to women leaders to take a leading role in helping Kenyans fight Covid-19. 

Waruguru was part of 16 allies of Deputy President William Ruto who are facing the axe from their plum positions in National Assembly committees in a continuation of the purge against perceived rebels.

The MPs who serve as chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of various committees have been served with seven-day notices of imminent removal.

Four chairpersons and 12 members – most of them holding vice-chair posts, will lose their lucrative positions.

Waruguru is facing removal as a vice chairperson of a committee.